Inspiration to Kick Off Your School Year

Every day, our supporters and fundraisers—our Champions for Children—inspire us with their passion to serve our patients and their families. During the 2017-2018 school year, hundreds of students gave back through Students for Packard fundraising events to support our hospital, proving that kids of any age can have an immediate impact in the lives of the patients and families we serve. We’d like to introduce you to four schools that inspired us in the 2017-2018 school year. We hope that your school will join us in supporting patients and families this year!

Bellarmine College Preparatory Ice Hockey TeamSan Jose

In February, members of the Bellarmine Ice Hockey Team visited our hospital to present a check for $1,052 to our pediatric oncology programs. The team supported our hospital in memory of their former teammate, a Packard Children’s patient who lost his battle with cancer in December 2016. The Bells, with support from volunteer Tom Clerkin, hosted the inaugural Memorial Hockey Game at the SAP Center and held a raffle and silent auction to help raise funds.

“I think that the Bellarmine community would like to continue and expand this annual event in the future. Together, we bring home the idea of community and philanthropy. Packard Children’s relies on the generous support of people like us,” said Clerkin.

Khan Lab SchoolMountain View

On Valentine’s Day, students at the Khan Lab School organized a mixed-age athletic competition to benefit our patients and families at the Betty Irene Moore Children’s Heart Center. Students got their hearts racing by jumping rope, shooting basketballs, hula-hooping, and long-jumping. Through donations in support of participants and a student-led bake sale, the Khan Lab School community raised more than $3,500.

“It was really fun to get the whole school together, not just to have fun but to give back to our community,” said Megan, a student. “It’s important to take action when you want change, because if you don’t, then who will?”

One of Khan Lab School’s youngest students, Drew, was born with a congenital heart anomaly and shares his story with his classmates each year with the help of his mom, Vivian. Additionally, students put together bedside activity kits filled with toys and games to help lift our young patients’ spirits.

St. Angela Merici Parish SchoolPacific Grove

During the last school year, third and fourth graders at St. Angela Merici Parish School collected, sorted, and recycled bottles and cans to help care for our environment and raise money to help others. At the end of the school year, students discussed how they wanted funds raised from their recycling to be distributed. Many students were eager to support Packard Children’s, as some of their friends, classmates, and family members had received treatment at our hospital.

Students donated $120.15 raised from their recycling efforts to support our area of greatest need at Packard Children’s.

Gardner Bullis ElementaryLos Altos Hills

Each year, the Gardner Bullis School holds the BookQuest—a program that gives every student, from kindergarten through sixth grade, the opportunity to write, illustrate, and publish their own book. For the second year in a row, for every publishing kit purchased, $5 was donated to our hospital. In the 2017-2018 school year, 126 students participated in the Gardner Bullis BookQuest program, and together, they raised $630 to support our hospital’s greatest needs.

“Our students look forward to continuing to support Packard Children’s for a third year during our 2018-19 school year,” said Nadia Oskolkoff, principal of Gardner Bullis Elementary.

Thank you to all our 2017-2018 Students for Packard. You’re our inspiration!